Network analysis of autistic traits in children with autism and their parents: validation through follow-up data and eye-tracking technology

Owing to the influence of genetic and environmental factors, complex associations exist between autistic traits in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their parents. However, little is known about the structure or the temporal stability of these familial associations, particularly from a network perspective. This study used network analysis to examine the interrelationships and longitudinal stability of autistic traits, as measured by the Social Responsiveness Scale, Second Edition (SRS-2), in 1294 ASD family trios at baseline and in 193 mother–child pairs at follow-up. Objective eye-tracking technology was employed to support the findings. Network analysis revealed that social communication was the most central domain across all family members. Parents and children were primarily associated through the dimension of restricted interests and repetitive behaviors (RRBs), and this pattern was supported by eye-tracking data. Comparisons between the baseline and follow-up networks revealed no significant changes in global strength, structure, or centrality, suggesting overall network stability over time. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the familial transmission of autistic traits and may offer insights for future etiological and intervention research on ASD.